Maine lobster awarded sustainable certification

BOSTON, MA (NEWS CENTER) -- The state's lobster fishery received a certification that will make Maine lobster more appealing to seafood buyers worldwide.

The Marine Stewardship Council announced that Maine lobster is certified sustainable seafood at the Boston Seafood Show Shunday. The Maine lobster industry has been working on the MSC certification for nearly five years. The MSC estimates that only fifteen percent of the fisheries in the world qualify for sustainable status. Governor Paul LePage says the sustainable certification encourages consumers to buy lobster that is not only caught, but also processed here in Maine.

"The problem last year is a problem that can be resolved for the future," LePage told NEWS CENTER. "If we can process our lobster in Maine so we're sure that the Maine lobster coming out of Maine waters stays in Maine and leaves Maine with a Maine brand, not go to Canada and other places."

The Marine Stewardship Council hires a team of independent scientists and experts to award sustainable certification. That team examines the fishery's species, stock, overall management quality, and environmental impact.